Betrothed To The Prince...

The brazen bull

Everybody left the courtroom including the emperor, Pete returned back to his chamber accompanied by his maids who were besides him all the time to take care of him.

Zee was about to leave when the empress called for him. "Your majesty." Zee greeted while bowing in front of the empress. "Sir Zee, I have a work for you. Keep it confidential and no one should know about this. I want you to send summons to Prince Satra and ask him to come back right now. His presence is necessary for me in this situation. And I will be telling you few things, ask him to get them along as well." The empress ordered.

"It will be done your majesty." Zee assured. "And arrange for the execution of the concubine in the public place and sent the word to ask everyone to be present. I want the people to know that not even the prince would be spared when it comes to punishment." The empress spoke. "That will be done your majesty." Zee assured.

"That's good. You may leave." The empress spoke as she began to walk away. Zee nodded while hurrying to fulfill the orders. He had a lot on his hands to be done in a short period of time.

When Pete arrived back to his chamber, he couldn't stop thinking about the punishment that the empress had declared. "Don't you think that mae had been little too harsh?" Pete asked. "Your highness, you are not even aware about what had happened when you were held captive. Her majesty was so angry and she went to search for you on her own. And we think that the concubine deserves it. You too have suffered so much and if it wasn't for the empress, we can't even think what would have happened. Prince Ae is not someone with a heart. He wouldn't have even cared if you would have died." Phailin spoke.

"I never thought about it. All that while, I was just thinking that I shouldn't have even married Ae. But when I came to know that mae had actually been out for me, I want to do something for her. Even though she has promised my parents to take care of me, it is important to see that she kept her motherhood aside and punished her own son for his mistake." Pete replied.

"We have known her majesty for long. She did her very best to make sure that prince Ae will be a good ruler but as he started to grow up, things changed. And his younger brother prince Satra was being more of a good person. He was already showing his love and dedication towards the people but then, there was some issue in another kingdom and the emperor decided that Prince Satra should be sent away to take care of everything. And they were more than right because he didn't just manage to take care of everything but the situation got much better than earlier. Ever since then, he had been staying there, taking care of everything. He hardly shows up at the palace. He wasn't even there for the wedding." Hom informed.

"Hmmm... That's what I have been thinking. I didn't see him at the wedding." Pete spoke. "Yes... He couldn't come because he needs to take care of everything. God knows when he will be visiting again." Phailin spoke.

As per the orders from the empress, the announcement was made in the market square withdrawing attention of all the people gathered around. Lord Runrot read out the scroll very loudly in front of all informing them about the time and place where they were asked to be present.

This was going to be the first ever that a public execution was announced in the kingdom. While some were excited, the others were scared with the idea. No one actually knew what was going to happen but the curiosity was already lingering in the air.

When the time was finally up, people began to gather around the place where the execution was going to be carried out. Chairs were set for the royalty while the others stood behind the chair to watch what was happening. The soldiers were lining up around the chairs for the protection.

Pete was in no mood to attend the gathering but he couldn't let down the word of his mother in law so he somehow dragged himself to the place. The emperor and his wife too were present on the spot including the prince Ae.